Reel drive for planters



June 21, 1949. s. M.4KR'IEGBAUM ETAL REEL DRIVE FOR PLANTERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1944 T w 2 r M a w j G. M. KRIEGBAUM ETAL 2,473,959

REEL DRIVE FOR PLANTERS June 2 Sheet'..'s,.. 2

Filed 21. 1944 II/II ,fizve -g J 3 M fl W m y Patented June 21, 1949 REEL DRIVE FOR PLANTERS George M. Kriegbaum and Clarence C. Haas,

Richmond, Ind., assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 21, 1944, Serial No. 550,406

3 Claims.

This invention relates to check-row planters and the like, and particularly to reel drive mechanism therefor.

In tractor-mounted check-row planters, the reel from which the check-wire is dispensed at the beginning of a planting operation and upon which it is rewound at the completion of planting, is frequently mounted upon the body of the tractor between the front and rear wheels thereof. An objection to this has been that the reel interferes with the operators view of the working area, and the tractor parts sometimes interfere with the proper winding of the check-Wire.

.An object of the present invention is to provide an improved reel drive for planters whereby the check-wire is uniformly wound on the reel and at a speed commensurate with the rate of travel of the tractor.

Another object is to provide an improved mounting for a check-wire reel upon a tractor or the like.

A further object is to provide means for mounting a check-wire reel to rotate coaxially with the tractor drive wheels, means for driving the reel at a peripheral speed commensurate with that of the drive wheel to promote uniform winding of the check-wire, and a slip clutch to compensate for the increasing rate of take-up of the check-wire.

A still further object is to provide means for mounting a check-wire reel to rotate coaxially with one of the drive wheels and at a location laterally outwardly removed therefrom.

Another object is to provide means for supporting a reel drive mechanism upon a ground-contacting wheel and for driving the reel from the ground wheel at a higher rotary speed than that of the ground wheel.

Other objects and advantages will become clear from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the rear end of a tractor, showing a check-row planter and the reel drive mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of thestructure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational detail, with parts removed for clarity, of the reel structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, a check-row planter designated generally by the numeral 10, is shown attached to a tractor ll having laterally spaced rear drive wheels I2 and I3 mounted upon a transverse axle I4.

Planter It includes a transverse frame l5 supporting planting mechanisms IS. The ends of the planter frame extend laterally beyond the drive wheels l2 and 13 of the tractor and are provided with check heads I1. It will be noted that the planter II] is directly connected to the tractor to be supported thereby. However, the structural details thereof form no part of the present invention, and the planter is substantially the same as that shown in the patent to Kriegbaum et al. 2,171,034, dated August 29, 1939.

The mechanism by which check-row planters dispense seed is also well known and requires no detailed explanation here. It may be pointed out generally that a check-wire, such as is shown at I8 in the drawings, is laid out in a field and staked. The check-wire is then placed in one of the check heads H, which is of conventional construction, and nubs such as l9, operate a conventional tripping mechanism, not shown, for the planters IS in order to deposit seed at fixed intervals.

In this planting operation, the check-wire 18 is staked at opposite ends of the field and is laid out and subsequently wound up again by the reel mechanism generally indicated at 20. This mechanism includes a drum or reel 2|, loosely mounted upon the outer end of a shaft 22, which extends transversely of the tractor. The inner end of shaft 22 is provided with an annular attaching plate 23 having openings therein to receive bolts 24, by which the plate is secured to the hub 25 of rear drive Wheel l2, the shaft 22 being coaxial with axle I4, as clearly shown in Figure 4. Thus shaft 22 rotates with wheel l2 and at the same speed as axle M. A collar 26 is keyed to the outer end of shaft 22 to prevent displacement of drum 2] therefrom.

The structure of drum 2| is conventional and consists generally of elements 21 secured together by bolts 28 and supported upon a hub 29 provided with radially extending ribs 30. Likewise mounted upon shaft 22, on the side of drum 2| opposite the collar 26, is a slip clutch 3| including a hub 32 having a flange portion 33 confined on opposite sides by clutch plates 34 and 35. Clutch plates 34 and 35 are resiliently held against the opposite faces of flange portion 33 by abolt 36 adjustable by a wing nut 31 and having a spring 38 thereupon between the bolt head and the plate shaft 22 to secure the slip clutch 3| thereto.

With the parts in the position as. indicated-in Figures 4 and 5, with clutch 3|. secured to shaft 22, the drum or reel 2| is utilized for laying out check-wire. In this position of, the. parts, the

drum 2| is loose upon the shaft 22 so that checkk wire may be freely dispensed therefrom,- but tension is maintained upon the check-wire by the contact of lugs 39 of clutch plate 34 with the ribs 30 of the drum. Clutch plates 34 and 35 slide about" the'fiange portion 33 as the drum 2| rotates and maintains the check-wire underproper tension. The check wire is paid out from the reel 2| in the direction as indicated in solid lines inFigure 2. H U

' As pointed out before, at completion of the planting operation the check-wire is rewound upon the reel or drum 2|. In view of the difference'in the diameter between reel 2| and drive wheels I2 and 3"of the tractor, it is. clear that the peripheral speed of the minimum diameter ofl re'el 2| must be stepped up considerably in orde'r' for the" check wire ,to be uniformly wound thereupon and at th'e speed at which the-trac for is traveling. As already pointed out, shaft 22 'of 'th'e reelmechani'sm 2D is mounted upon the'tractprfldrive wheel. |2..to, rotate coaxially therewith. In cree to drive the reel 2| at. a peripheral speed" commensurate with the rate of travel o f thejt'ractor, applicants provide a step-. 1 mechanism ne a y, m ta e a 43- T is. mechanism includes a gear wheel 44 provided with a sleeve 45 keyed to the, shaft 22 by a bolt 46., I oos'ely mounted' uponTthe shaft 22 laterally outwardly from g'earwheel 44 isa sleeve 4,! having secured thereto a pinion 4'! of smaller diameter than the gear wheel 44. Journaled upon sleevei ifl and hub '45 isfa gear 100x 48 comprisin'gfseparable portions 49 .a1 '1d. 50 connected: 3 bo 51- J i r'n d .in't eflmr on 4 n sojfi a shaft 52 parallel. to sha ftl22 A and having keyed thereto a step 'gear 53 comprising a smaller stjep 54 and a larger. step 55. Step 54isin driv: ii'rg "engagement with, gear; 44 secured to. shaft-- 22', and rst'ep 55 is in engagement With pinion. 41". on sleeve 4'1. .Ihus, since gear 44 is secured, to shaft 221 an pinion 4l on. sleeve 41. is loose uponQsha f t-Q ZZ rotation of shaft 22 is trans-p, mitted from gear, 44.,through step gear. 53.1 pinion 4,|.', theratio being approximately three revolutions of pinion 41' for one revolution ofshaft22 -"Sleeve 41 is likewise provided withtan outer surfaceof substantially square cross-section, as cl'e'arly.. shown.in, Figure (hand adapted to coin cide .yvith the squaresouter surfaceof hub portjion 32.o f.slip ;clutch ,3 L, As alreadysstatedwhen. unwinding wire from reel .2 the. reel is free to rotate upon;.the shaft- 22 against the resistance imposed thereupon byits; connection with-the;

slip clutch 3|. uIn order to drive-reel 2|--and at.-. a; higher rotary. speed. than that of shaft 22; key.- 4| is unscrewed from its seat in hubportion 32. The collar is then slidv-alongethe hulr32-"andthe square portion of sleeve 41 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 and in crosssection in Figure 6. The key or bolt 4| is then tightened when collar 40 straddles the hub portion 32 and sleeve 41, thus connecting these two elements. Drive from axle l4, wheel l2, and shaft 22 is then transmitted through gears 44, 53,,and, 41' to. the slip clutch 3|, .reel 2| being driven therewith by contactfofi lugs 39 with ribs 3|). In order to maintain the check-wire at constant tension when being wound upon the reel 2|, the peripheral speed of the smallest diameter of the reel is preferably slightly greater than the peripheral speed-of wheel l2 and therefore of the ground. travel of the tractor. As the check-Wire is wound upon the reel, as indicated in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, the speed of take-up of the check-wire increases with the increasingdiameter of the reel, and the slip clutch 3| compensates by slippage in order to main- .tainacconstant. tension onathewire. .In-order to prevent rocking off thegear box 48-with the rotation of shaft 22, a lug 56 is provided adjacent the upper end of the gear box (see Figures 1, 2, and 3) and connectedby a. rod-5'| -with--a lug ,58 adjacent the left-hand:checkxhead-fl at the end of frame I 5....Whileinvthepresent embodiment, gears have-been shown and described for the step-up .drive; it should beru-nderstood-that other suitable driving. mechanism may be sub-- stitutedtherefors. 1 Secured to theslower portion. of: gear box 48 by a bolt-591s a forwardly extending strap 60, to the end -.of which is :secured 8,1 transverse 'axle 6| having: crossed grooves: 62 therein and parallel to shaft 22; Mountedi'upon shaft 6*! :for'recim rooation: thereon. in'the 1grooves't62 is-a :sheav'e 63. In winding the check-wire l8 upon'ithe reel- 2|,:as indicatediby'the dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2; the check-wire :ispassed 'over the sheave 63 and under and around the reel 2|.: The sheave 63-, reciprocating along==the axle 6 lby: virtue of-the grooves;62,:servesstolevel-wind the check-wire upon the reel.

:It should now-be understood that'a novel and:-

efiicient reel drive for: a check-row planter has been provided,- the .advanta'ges 'of which are manifold For example, since" the reel and its drive mechanism extend laterally outwardly from sary to change t-hefunctionofthe'device fromthat of unwinding check-wire attl're'beginning of a planting operation tothe rewindi'ng of'the'i wire at the completion thereof.

In the embodiment of the. invention shown inthe drawingsthe. shaft 22' withthe reel and stepup drive mechanism is mounted on the left-hand'- tractordrive wheel |2-.- In such instances, of

course, ,thecheck-rwire willbe laid at the edge;- of. the field adjacent the left-hand side of-the However, it should be clear that if thetractor. right-hand side: oflthestractor is to operate at the edge of a field or adjacent a fence ort-he like-,

the, drive mechanism 20 may be 'readily detached from. wheel; l2 and similarly attached -towheel- It on the right side of the tractorr Having described the invention; it should' be understood that modifications m'ay be made,

therein withoutld'epar ting from= the spirit'ofithe invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a tractor having a longitudinally extending body, a transverse rear axle and rear drive wheels, a reel drive mechanism for a planter comprising a transverse shaft mounted for coaxial rotation with said rear axle, a check-Wire reel loosely mounted adjacent the free end of said shaft, a sleeve secured to said shaft, a second sleeve loose on said shaft, gears on said sleeves, a casing journaled on said sleeves, gearing carried by said casing and meshing with the gears on said sleeves for rotating said second sleeve at a higher rotary speed than said shaft, and means for optionally drivingly connecting said second sleeve and said reel.

2. In combination with a tractor having a longitudinally extending body, a transverse rear axle and rear drive wheels, a reel drive mechanism for a planter comprising a transverse shaft mounted for coaxial rotation with said rear axle, a check-wire reel loosely mounted adjacent the free end of said shaft, a gear secured to said shaft, a sleeve loose on said shaft, a gear secured to said sleeve, a casing journaled for rotation on said shaft, gearing carried by said casing and meshing with the gears on said shaft and said sleeve for rotating the sleeve at a higher rotary speed than the shaft, and means for drivingly connecting said sleeve and said reel.

3. For use with a tractor having a transverse rear axle and rear drive Wheels, a planter having a transverse frame extending laterally outwardly beyond said drive Wheels, a transverse shaft detachably secured at one end to one of said drive Wheels for coaxial rotation therewith, a check-wire reel freely rotatable on said shaft adjacent its outer end, a gear housing journaled on said shaft in substantially longitudinal alinenient with the end of said planter frame, gearing on said shaft, step-up gearing in said housing meshing with the gearing on said shaft, pinion means on said shaft drivingly connecting said step-up gearing and said reel, means for optionally disabling the driving connection between said gearing and said reel, and means connecting said gear housing with said planter frame to prevent rocking movement of said housing.

GEORGE M. KRIEGBAUM.

CLARENCE C. I-IAAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 210,998 Cross Dec. 17, 1878 265,197 Waterman Sept. 26, 1882 315,790 James et a1 Apr. 14, 1885 808,424 Wyckofi et a1 Dec. 26, 1905 939,616 Murphey Nov. 9, 1909 1,058,694 Bartholomew Apr. 8, 1913 1,892,785 Keiser Jan. 3, 1933 1,976,314 White Oct. 9, 1934 2,033,366 White Mar. 10, 1936 2,108,367 Christian Feb. 15, 1938 2,171,034 Kriegbaum et a1. Aug. 29, 1939 

